Haritha > Recent Status Updates

My kindle app is acting up and making this book hard to read. I swipe, and the image slides too far or not far enough. It's very weird. I'm putting this book "away" until I can get a paper copy.

Much better organized than the last workout-inspiration book I read. After first building the case for how exercise affects the brain generally, the researcher then addresses how exercise treats various cognitive maladies. Anxiety, depression, ADHD, and addiction. I have strong hopes that this book will finish strong. And yes, I am motivated!

I listened to the first part of this book a long time ago, and I saved the workbook section for when I have time for it. Starting day one today. I have a good feeling about this.

Okay this is nuts: it seems Pluto has an ocean of water under its surface, but we can't figure out what's keeping it liquid. Pluto is not large enough to have a hot core, and there is no large body nearby to provide tidal forces like the moons of Jupiter and Saturn. Trefil & Summers simply point out this mystery, and then move on. 😳

My new "listen while lifting" book. So far, pretty interesting. Definitely prescribing exercise to myself for post-tragedy recovery.

It is a bit of a challenge to keep up with all the characters, and the passage of time, with this type of novel. However, the story is picking up now and there are a few story lines I feel invested in. Most of all, I wonder whether this Syrian man will get properly settled.

I'm still listening..... The organization is not improving over length.

I don't know if I can finish this.... For some reason we went from ancient Greece to a body builder in the 1970s within 5 chapters. Where is the narrative structure? Is this a history book or a self-help book? Are there any discernable themes? I don't get it. On the plus side, listening to it does make me want to exercise. Maybe that's the only purpose of this book.

Another book taken from the apartment

This is really good so far. A bit more macabre than I expected

This should be universally required reading

Any suggestions for what to assign this kid next? 9yo boy

The kid reports that Templeton is his favorite character. He made a good case too. Color me surprised.

It is delightful that Brusatte can surprise me halfway through this book. He starts chapters and sections with little pieces of creative fiction, and the style does a lovely job of keeping me engaged

An estimate of progress. We just went through this description of the swing in the barn that was a master class in immersive writing. White switches from third to second person. He sets up the swing in short clear descriptive sentences. Sentences get longer as you swing, with lots of punctuation to get you there. Excellent discussion of grammar and style with the kid. Five stars.

Currently reading with my 3rd grader. So interesting on the re-read. The older brother brings his air rifle and wooden knife to school in chapter 1. Wow.

The dust jacket description is utterly worthless. I will try to do better when I finally review this book. But at this moment, know: this book is NOT a good jetlag, woken-by-anxiety or any kind of reading-in-the-dark book. Daylight only.

Quite violent and gory. There are a few mysteries that are keeping me going.

Two chapters in. What the heck am I reading. That Stephen King endorsement should have tipped me off. I already skipped one page of sexual violence. Wish me luck with this one.

I must say, this writing style is not at all what I expected

Good lord this is morbid.

At this point, I am deciding if I will finish this book. Clearly the author has poured her heart and soul into this book, but I'm just yearning for some citations. I was expecting more of a natural history book than this. Comments on the question "to finish or not to finish" are welcome.